Tag: book review

Last night I finally finished and submitted my third MA English essay (yay!) so I spent this morning watching Orange Is The New Black, 90210 and The Vampire Diaries (late to the party, I know) and finishing reading Love, Tanya. I was conflicted on several counts with this book, primarily whether a YouTuber is classed as a “celebrity”, and therefore whether or not I could count it for #15 of the 2016 Reading Challenge (I decided no – and then came the creation of my second self-made category).

Review:“Take advantage of every opportunity that is thrown your way and embrace it. Say yes to invitations and be prepared to take risks.”

Love, Tanya is a book exploring every avenue of a teenage girl’s life, and thus has no direction: it has no primary focus. With sections on everything from fashion to love, from hair and nails essentials to baking and recipes, it falls flat. Despite this, there will be segments that appeal to different audiences, but it is not really a book to read from cover to cover.

That being said, it is a colourful, interactive book, with pages for reader-made lists on the topics she covers and photos spanning her life and career. As far as YouTuber books go, it’s disappointing – I really wanted to love it. I like Tanya and her brand, but unfortunately her book is just too broad with no depth.

I love vloggers and YouTubers in general. I think it’s great that they’ve found a creative gateway to earn a living, but books by YouTubers shouldn’t be published without a clear-cut direction. I read Marcus Butler’s book earlier this year and much prefered it, as it had a focus on self-improvement (fitness, healthy eating, etc) but Tanya’s book just didn’t do it for me.

For more content, visit @charlottebibliophile on Goodreads, Instagram and YouTube

Following an action packed 48-hours, which included dinner and a trip to watch Mamma Mia the musical (for the 3rd time) with my Mum and her friend; a shopping trip, AirHop experience and lunch with my friend Lucinda; and a coffee and a catch-up with my friend Alice, I was exhausted (and extremely happy!) and decided I needed a quick pick-me-up. I plumped for Rainbow Rowell’s short-story Kindred Spirits for the 2016 Reading Challenge, which is exactly what the doctor ordered!

Title: Kindred Spirits
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Released: 2016
Pages: 62
Category: #14 A book you can finish in a day
Rating: 7/10

Review:“And the thing about nerd culture being mainstream culture now means that there’s no place to just be a nerd among other nerds – without being reminded that you’re the nerd.”

Kindred Spirits is a short-story for World Book Day 2016, by Rainbow Rowell. The main character, Elena, a high-school girl with a huge passion for Star Wars decides to camp out at the movie theatre for four days for ‘The Force Awakens’. Expecting camaraderie and dozens of fans to connect with, the reality is far removed: only strangers Troy and Gabe are there to share the experience.

Being a short-story, there isn’t a lot of background to the characters, but the plot is one where the reader is immersed in the there-and-now, so it is of little issue. The story is incredibly cute, and the ending is hilarious and romantic in equal measure.

This is a short, quick read, and the friendship and romance that developed between the three main characters is incredibly well developed. I think the thing that I loved the most about this book is putting nerd-culture firmly on the map. I think a lot of YA lovers will connect especially well with this book, even if, like me, Star Wars isn’t their primary fandom – I see myself in Elena, immersed in geek-culture with my love of Potter!

For more content, visit @charlottebibliophile on Goodreads, Instagram and YouTube

Last night I was struggling to decide what to read (bearing in mind I was “currently reading” five books). Nothing took my fancy so I decided to begin yet another book: The Grownup by Gillian Flynn. It’s fair to say that I devoured it, and had to stop myself finishing it before midnight (since I already finished a book and wrote a review yesterday). April and the 2016 Reading Challenge is going well!

Review:“Empathetic silence is one of the most underused weapons in the world.”

A young woman is making a living as a cut-price psychic (with some soft-core sex work on the side). When Susan shows up wanting the young woman’s psychic opinion on her fifteen-year-old stepson and her haunted mansion, thinking she can make a quick buck, the young woman visits the house and performs ritual exorcisms – that is until she discovers strange goings-on.

This short story is intense, entirely gripping and very creepy (and if the first line of the book doesn’t entice you, nothing will). The pace is excellent and the characterisation, even for a short story, is excellent. The plot has you questioning every character and their motives, even after the last page!

I found The Grownup to be fantastic! It was everything I want in a short story – I did work out what was going on around page 40 – with the exception of the ending (which frankly made little to no sense, not that I care). This was only my second Gillian Flynn read, after Gone Girl, and now I can’t wait to read Sharp Objects and Dark Places.

For more content, visit @charlottebibliophile on Goodreads, Instagram and YouTube

Review:“The best discoveries always happened to the people who weren’t looking for them.”

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour follows high-schooler Amy, and college Freshman Roger on a mammoth coast-to-coast drive. Amy’s father recently passed away, and her mother decided to relocate her family from California to Connecticut for a fresh start. Due to circumstances, Amy’s mother is already at their new home, so Amy is forced to make the trip with family-friend Roger, who is headed to Philadelphia to spend the summer with his father.

The story begins with Amy deciding to visit Yosemite National Park, a family favourite, before she leaves the state of her upbringing for good: cue the start of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour. The novel deals with serious topics such as bereavement and addiction, but is also filled with adventure and character development, (the hint of romance is sweet, but definitely an undercurrent). In terms of the characters themselves, Roger is the most perfect guy, but at times I found Amy to be a bit annoying – understandable when you know the difficulties that she has gone through over the past few months.

The story is told in both present day and past tense, with the flashbacks focusing on what happened before the death of her father. As well as typical prose, the novel is filled with postcards, receipts and playlists from Amy and Roger’s trip, which added a level of fun to the story. If you’re looking for a cute YA contemporary with less of a romantic focus, look no further.

The book was by no means perfect – at times it was rather repetitive – but it was entertaining and a lot of fun! I also really loved some of the supporting characters, particularly Lucien, as well as the ultimate moral of the story: life is short and can end unexpectedly, live it to the fullest.

For more content, visit @charlottebibliophile on Goodreads, Instagram and YouTube

This afternoon, whilst purposely trying to avoid the terrifying Coriolanus essay I’ve got to write, I finished reading Blue is the Warmest Color, a graphic novel (one of the categories for the 2016 Reading Challenge) by Julie Maroh. It was the perfect (temporary) distraction from real-life.

Review:“Love is something way too abstract and indefinable. It depends on what we perceive and what we experience. If we don’t exist, it doesn’t exist. And we change so much; love must change as well. Love catches fire, it tresspasses, it breaks, we break, it comes back to life… we come back to life. Love may not be eternal but, it can make us eternal…”

Blue is the Warmest Color is a graphic novel by Julie Maroh. It centres around the life of sixteen year old Clementine who is beginning to question her sexuality. When her gay best friend takes her out for the evening, she spots a beautiful young woman, Emma, with shocking blue hair, and immediately develops feelings for her.

The graphic novel is told in two formats: a reflective diary, which allows Clementine to be an ever present force in the story, and live-action sequences, focusing on her relationships with Emma, her family and her friends. The art is mediocre – at times it is difficult to distinguish between certain characters – but the story is beautiful.

This is a story about true love, self-discovery and acceptance. The first half is brilliant, but unfortunately the plot nose-dives at the mid-point, though the ending is (thankfully) wonderful. Clementine as a character is well developed and interesting, but the reader is never fully allowed to enter into Emma’s world, and as a result there are a few questions left unanswered. Despite this, it is a powerful, hard-hitting story that transcends gender and sexuality.

Whilst this graphic novel wasn’t perfect (not that I’m an expert in the medium by any means) it was very raw, real and overflowing with emotion. There are some mature themes featured in this book, including drug abuse and death, but they only added to the impact of this tragic love story.

For more content, visit @charlottebibliophile on Goodreads, Instagram and YouTube

Sometimes, when I have three or four books on the go I am less motivated to complete them than if I were only reading one or two. This is the position I found myself in this weekend, when on Saturday evening I decided on a whim to pick up Hello Life! by Marcus Butler, which I flew through – this month I’m making excellent progress on my 2016 Reading Challenge!

YouTubers are releasing books left, right and centre, and Marcus Butler is no different. Hello Life! allows his viewers an insight into his world, problems he’s faced and decisions he’s made that have led him to his current lifestyle.

This book is filled with sometimes amusing, sometimes emotional anecdotes about Marcus’s life, and covers topics from bullying to bereavement and from healthy living to family drama. Each topic is addressed with care and attention and features helpful tips as to how to deal with them.

The book is primarily aimed at 12-16 year old females, although there is some useful advice for people of all ages and genders. Marcus never proclaims to be an expert at anything, and his modesty came through in his words, but with the fanbase he has this book could hold within its pages some pivotal advice for young teens.

Whilst some of the advice didn’t apply to me, I especially liked the section on healthy living (what to avoid eating, and what to eat more of) which I hope to use as inspiration in the future – goodbye crisps and fizzy drinks, hello… I’ll work on that bit.

For more content, visit @charlottebibliophile on Goodreads, Instagram and YouTube

Yesterday, I went to my double bookcase and scanned the shelves looking for something to grab my interest. I wanted to read a quick yet meaningful book and after some deliberation, plumped for George by Alex Gino. It kept me up past midnight and I finished it in a whirlwind of emotions. It also marks my 10th book for the 2016 Reading Challenge, and my first created category.

Review:“My point is, it takes a special person to cry over a book. It shows compassion as well as imagination.”

George by Alex Gino tells the story of 4th grader Melissa, a young girl born in the body of a boy, George (for the purpose of this review I’ll be using the pronoun she). This middle-grade novel centres around Charlotte’s Web, which the class have been reading, and are going to perform as a play to the rest of the school and their friends and family. George’s best friend Kelly insists that she tryout for Charlotte, along with the rest of the girls. George desperately desires to play Charlotte and have people view her as a girl.

This is a very special book, highlighting the importance of friendship and bravery, and it deals with important issues such as bullying and parental/teacher misunderstanding. The characters in this novel are excellent: George/Melissa is an incredibly troubled little girl, hiding a secret she wishes she wasn’t, and Kelly is the most amazing and understanding best friend.

I’m so glad a book like this exists, especially since it’s targeted towards 8-12 year olds. If it can help one child accept who they are then it’s been the most tremendous success! And if it educates the masses at a young age about transgender issues then it’s only going to make for a more caring and loving body of people in the future.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and hope it, or something like it, becomes required reading at schools. The younger we can educate kids about LGBTQ issues, the less of an issue they will be.

For more content, visit @charlottebibliophile on Goodreads, Instagram and YouTube

Today I finally plucked up the courage to finish reading Coriolanus by William Shakespeare for my next MA English essay (and the 2016 Reading Challenge). I have always had a bad relationship with Shakespeare: the only two other plays I have studied for school – The Tempest and The Merchant of Venice – I really didn’t enjoy, and as a result I have ardently proclaimed not to like any of his works. Unfortunately my third foray into his repertoire did nothing to alleviate my distaste.

Coriolanus by William Shakespeare is believed to be the playwrights final tragedy. The play is set in early Republican Rome, and the ruling King has been replaced by a government run by elected officials. It follows soldier-turned-politician Caius Martius who wishes to represent Rome – he is of the belief that his noble standing and military excellence should automatically bestow on him the honour of the consulship. However, when the senate inform him that he must win the people’s approval by asking them for their vote, Coriolanus’s true nature comes to light – he is an arrogant, insolent individual, concerned only with personal glory.

The play features several strong and influential characters, most notably Coriolanus’s mother, Volumnia, who captures the early voice of feminism, along with her ready belief in her noble status. One of the primary themes of the play is class divide: the noble patricians versus the common plebeians. The people have won their way into power through a select few tribunes, who act as the voices of the masses, much to the dismay of many of noble blood. As a result of these tribunes being elected there is a power struggle between the classes, which ultimately leads to Coriolanus’s banishment and eventual demise.

I found the play extremely difficult to get into, though thankfully after struggling through two Acts I found an audiobook on YouTube, which lessened the strain somewhat. The plot was interesting enough and there were some characters I found noteworthy, but I still maintain that I have no interest in Shakespeare – how am I going to write a 2,500 word essay?!

For more content, visit @charlottebibliophile on Goodreads, Instagram and YouTube

Today I finished an absolutely fantastic book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes, marking my 8th book for the 2016 Reading Challenge. I’d saved reading it until the completion of my second MA essay. Almost the second I sent off my work, I dived straight it. And what a rollercoaster it was!

Review:“Evidence is the name we give to what we have, but what about the things we haven’t found? Sometimes the things that are missing are of far greater importance.”

I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes is a beast of a book, no doubt, but it is also one of the most intricate, beautifully weaved books I’ve ever read. It follows several, apparently unconnected, threads in locations across the globe and ties them up amazingly into one fluid plot.

Our main character, Pilgrim, in an ex-intelligence agent, amongst the best in the world. When he finds himself stumbling across the murder of a young woman at a New York hotel, he is unceremoniously thrust back into the secret world, tracking a much more prolific killer.

The characters in the novel are fabulous, especially Pilgrim and his NYPD cop friend Bradley who share some excellent exchanges, and the storyline is terrifying – which makes for a fantastic read. One slight downside was that the clues were dropped slightly too early, so the conclusion didn’t make for the spectacle it could have done – despite this, it is one of the best thrillers I’ve ever read.

Whilst the ends weren’t all tied up expertly with a bow, considering this is a debut novel I am astounded at the craftsmanship that went into this book – and I cannot wait for The Year of the Locust!

For more content, visit @charlottebibliophile on Goodreads, Instagram and YouTube

It’s been almost two weeks since I finished a book, but today I completed my 7th of the 2016 Reading Challenge: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. Having only read and enjoyed Fangirl, I had high expectations. Unfortunately the hype was too much.

Told over the duration of a school year, the novel tells the love story of 16 year-old Eleanor and Park, who fall in love, despite coming from entirely different backgrounds: Eleanor lives with her mother, aggressive step-father and four younger siblings. Park is surrounded by his loving family: his middle-class parents, younger brother and his grandparents.

The two are thrust together out of necessity and their friendship blossoms into young love over comic books and cassette tapes. Eleanor & Park deals with serious issues such as poverty, oppression and harassment through the dual perspectives of the protagonists.

Whilst the relationship itself was sweet, I found that the supporting characters were the most interesting, most notably Park’s parents and Eleanor’s hateful step-father, Ritchie.The thing I most appreciated about this novel was how flawed the characters are, and that they accepted and apologised for them. There wasn’t one instance of a truly perfect character, which made this novel feel all the more real.

The general pace of the novel was good, although there were some repeated scenes which added nothing to the story. The most disappointing thing was that the conclusion was abrupt and left unanswered questions. However, I loved the plot twist which I definitely did not see coming!

Whilst I wasn’t as impressed with Eleanor & Park as I was with Fangirl, I’m definitely going to continue reading Rainbow’s novels (in fact I have Attachments, Landline and Carry On lined up on my shelf ready and waiting to be read). Sometimes hype can lead you to a mind-blowingly fantastic novel, but other times it falls a little flat. You live and you learn.

For more content, visit @charlottebibliophile on Goodreads, Instagram and YouTube